I'd be interested in this strictly for streaming Recorded content from other Tivos I own, and not necessarily for the tuner features. I own 2 TiVo premieres dual tuners and a HD. Any idea if the streaming of recorded content still work even if I don't have a quad tuner to link it to?

Controls are instant. This is not like a slingbox where it is mirroring what is on the remote TiVo. The digital data is actually being streamed to the remote TiVo/Mini so it has full control over it without needing to send any signal to the host. I can't comment directly on the Mini but I have multiple Premieres and use MRS all the time. The only place you really notice that you're not using the local TiVo is during FF/RW. The video is a bit choppier then when playing a local recording so it can be a little but more difficult to land exactly where you want after skipping e commercials. However if you get use to it. Plus if you use 30 second scan instead you notice no difference at all. The rest of the trick play features are indistinguishable from playing the same recording on the host TiVo m

In the DC metro region there are 12 Minis in the Maryland warehouse which can be purchased in-store now for in-store or home delivery. I'm not super literate with Best Buy's inventory system but, from what the clerk showed me, it also looks like more units could be on order or enroute.

Ok, one more update (sorry for the spam). I tried streaming a show from the other TiVo premiere in my house and it worked fine today. It didn't work yesterday due to networking issues. It doesn't look like i can set the Mini up to use a tuner from the 2-tuner premiere but that may be a config issue on the 2-tuner, I'll check it out.

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I checked the 2nd (2-tuner) premiere I have and the "Allow Live TV on Other Devices" menu is missing so I suspect that's why it doesn't work. I'm not sure if this will ever be allowed by TiVo, or if it's maybe one of the bugs they are holding up release for. I've been following the mini pretty closesly but not that closely. I thought I remember reading at one point that initial pairing had to be with a 4-tuner, but you could pair with a 2-tuner afterwards. Maybe I mis-read it or it was another rumor. Either way you can stream content off of the 2-tuner so that's the important part.

Another note: my pyTivo shares are X'd out on the Mini. I suspect I need to setup streambaby or something similar since the mini needs to stream, not copy. If anyone has a pointer on how to set this up on a Mac I'd be happy to test it.

I'd be interested in this strictly for streaming Recorded content from other Tivos I own, and not necessarily for the tuner features. I own 2 TiVo premieres dual tuners and a HD. Any idea if the streaming of recorded content still work even if I don't have a quad tuner to link it to?

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No. It has to be paired to a 4 tuner unit to even get through setup. Although you may want to do the math. It may work out to replace two of your other units with a 4 tuner box and a Mini depending on how much you pay for CableCARDs and outlet fees.

In the DC metro region there are 12 Minis in the Maryland warehouse which can be purchased in-store now for in-store or home delivery. I'm not super literate with Best Buy's inventory system but, from what the clerk showed me, it also looks like more units could be on order or enroute.

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I hope so. 12 units for the twenty or more stores in the DC area seems like a small amount. They would sell out very quickly.

I just need to decide if I'm going to make a trip to BestBuy tonight. I typically don't like going there on weekends unless it's early, like AM. Otherwise it's too crowded.

Thanks for the info. I'll have to do the math then and see if the a new quad makes more sense. Too bad you cant just stream recorded content if you don't want the live tv. Also I just called several stores in my area and they told me several nearby stores have it in stock.

Having a 4 tuner unit that can consolidate all your Season Passes into a single box has value in and of itself. Honestly the only reason I still have two TiVos is because my stupid cable company still has some analog only channels and I have to keep a 2 tuner Premiere to record those. When they finally switch to all digital I'm dumping the Premiere and getting a Mini to replace it instead.

I called my local store with the SKU, and he said they had a "bunch" of them at the warehouse, but none of the area stores were slated to carry any...Guess Tivo doesnt have many customers in Arkansas. Guess I wait for the website. Just paired up a third used TivoHD for the guest room with a cablecard from Comcast. At first they told me it would be a $8.95 outlet fee plus $2.95 for the cablecard, but when I got it, she said there was no outlet fee here...so might not need the Mini after all, depends on my actual bill next month

No fans, no noise whatsoever. LEDs are much less intrusive as well. This device is *very* bedroom friendly. If you see the hardware pics I posted above it shows the full board. The only things not pictured are the heat sink over the BCM chip and the plastic enclosure.

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Can the LEDs be turned off or do they only shut off when the unit is powered off?

My question is "How far behind the new Mini will the announcement of a new(higher performing) 4 or 6 tuner Tivo be??" Will it coincide with the end of the Premiere 4/Stream bundle special(Mar. 11) or is this just wishful thinking on my part"

I suspect I need to setup streambaby or something similar since the mini needs to stream, not copy. If anyone has a pointer on how to set this up on a Mac I'd be happy to test it.

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I doubt you will be able to stream directly to the Mini since streambaby is not real streaming, however as I mentioned earlier you should be able to use streambaby to push videos to other TiVos and then you can use MRS from the Mini to play the videos while they push - at least in theory. Installation is pretty simple:
1. Download streambaby-20111203-2132.zip
2. Unzip it to a new folder somewhere.
3. Edit streambaby.ini file to look something like below (change dir.1 setting to be a valid path to your videos, and for pushes to work you have to provide your tivo.com username and password):
(If ffmpeg is already in your path then you are set. Otherwise you can also add ffmpeg.path=/full/path/to/ffmpeg)

4. Start streambaby by executing the "streambaby" script.
5. On Mini from TiVo Central choose "Showcases & Apps" and then find streambaby and click on it.
6. Find a video file and press select. I doubt the "Play" option will work on a Mini but you can try it. For push scroll down to "Push video" and use the left/right arrows to select a TiVo you want to push to, then press select.

My question is "How far behind the new Mini will the announcement of a new(higher performing) 4 or 6 tuner Tivo be??" Will it coincide with the end of the Premiere 4/Stream bundle special(Mar. 11) or is this just wishful thinking on my part"

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Yeah, I'm wondering this as well, as it seems like they would be a logical pair to re-launch the whole TiVo system, probably with a 6-tuner Premiere with updated silicon.

Ok, at the "Loading Info" screen now. Moca setup was a breeze. I did the online activation and unfortunately it tried to activate like a normal TiVo (e.g. $12.95/mo or $499/lifetime). I just did the monthly option and figured I'd convert/call TiVo once it goes live.

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I was able to activate mine without any issues. After entering the TSN it was recognized as a Mini and I was given the choice of $5.95 monthly or $149.99 lifetime.

My question is "How far behind the new Mini will the announcement of a new(higher performing) 4 or 6 tuner Tivo be??" Will it coincide with the end of the Premiere 4/Stream bundle special(Mar. 11) or is this just wishful thinking on my part"

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There's no intel suggesting a new box is imminent. But we have intel on a 6-tuner box likely in the fall. We don't know if it's higher performing or not, we just know about the # of tuners. (Though common sense suggests it should have a stronger cpu.)